RAZERLINE OLYMPIAN 6.4 REVIEW
Ah, the Olympic Games - that world-renowned event that confronts us every four years, that extravaganza that pays homage to the elite of every race and every sport that involves speed, agility, strength, stamina and all-round fitness.
West Australian alloy boatbuilder, Seaquest, has produced their own Olympic hero, in the guise of a 6.4m Razerline model. This boat is designed to run the race not just against the ever-increasing range of alloy boats on the market but also against many of the fibreglass models that compete in the same market share stakes.
THE WARM-UP
Riding out to the Jumpinpin Bar with a good 30-knot south easterly would test the stability and dryness of any boat. The Olympian held up well in the comfort stakes, to the relief of all aboard. Too bad the camera boat wasn't an Olympian too - the passengers in the following rig looked like drowned rats by the time we got inside the Bar. But sympathy only stretches so far… I wasn't budging for anyone and was first aboard the 6.4m for the trip home!
The bow section on the Olympian features a massive anchor well and a solid long bowsprit. It could be accessed via the cabin roof hatch or by way of the wide walkaround path surrounding the cabin. Solid grabrails along the edge of the hardtop made for safe transit to and from the bow section either way. The roof of the hardtop was uncluttered and would be a good stowage spot for a small rubber ducky or perhaps a couple of swags for an extended trip.
The spacious cockpit can be reached by jumping down off the coamings. The expanse of the coaming area will be appreciated by many fishos - it could fish six bottom anglers with ease.
Big sidepockets down each side held large fenders, while the transom bulkhead had been filled in and featured a hatch for the oil bottle and another for a pair of batteries. It was rebated near the bottom and provided a handy and comfortable bolster against which to stand or lean when fishing.
A transom gate opened to allow access onto the full width pod featuring a large and robust drop-down boarding ladder. A pump secreted behind the liner of the transom gateway fed the live bait well under the permanently fixed baitboard.
The deck featured a huge killtank that was bunged and drained externally. The bunghole allowed water in to keep the catch fresh, and it could be drained when on the plane or could be bunged again to retain its contents. It would have the capacity for some big fish and plenty of them.
SPARTAN COMFORT
The seats for the skipper and the passenger were built by Raeline and consisted of strong stainless tubing frames and comfortable padded bases and backs. They were swivel but were fixed rather than sliding on a frame. This could cause trouble for any helmsperson who prefers more room to move rather than being sandwiched between the helm and the base of the seat, although this problem could be fixed easily enough when ordering your boat.
The bases of both seats were modules fixed to the deck and the helm station liner providing incredible strength and rigidity to this structure. There was also ample headroom under the hardtop. The hardtop features a rocket launcher outside, and inside has an overhead console holding two radios and a CD player above the triple-paned hardened glass windscreen. The side windows were heavy duty Perspex and featured a sliding window for ventilation. Those planning on spending time in the northern waters of this country might consider an opening skylight in the hardtop to pump ventilation into this area as it could get a little stifling on calm days.
The helm station also had plenty of space for large-scale electronics, either in the fascia or on the mantle under the screen. This could be further enhanced by putting the compass under the screen where there is less room so as to utilise the fascia for those electronic cabinets.
The footrests are on the bulkheads at the aft end of the berths, which could sleep two at a squeeze. Getting in and out of the cabin is easy and it is quite open and airy. Sitting was also easy with enough legroom in the well for three people. There were no sidepockets surrounding the inner cabin, which equated to no backrests when seated, which should be contemplated not only for comfort but extra stowage.
Our test boat featured no under berth stowage either but we were assured that these hatches were yet to be fitted.
ATHLETIC POWER
This boat was rigged with a Mercury 175hp Saltwater Series outboard. It provided brilliant hole-shot and very rapid acceleration. The helm was impressive and was a mix of Seastar helm pump and Hydrive ram at the engine - a combination preferred by the engine supplier, Onshore Marine, for overall smoothness and compression.
One could throw this rig into full high speed broadsides with no loss of control and direct steering throughout harsh manoeuvring was evident. Pulling off the power suddenly or going astern, the transom door was water tight, something that we found wanting in this boat's big brother, the 7.2m rig we tested over 12 months ago.
With such a strong wind on the beam I thought I would be looking for the trim tab switch, as high structures such as the hardtop over the hull tend to list a boat dramatically in this type of weather. But while some list was evident, it was well within comfortable parameters - which was just as well as there wasn't trim tab switch anyway!
Overall, the Razerline Olympian 6.4 took a good thrashing out in the slop, and dealt with it well. The quality of the power and handling showed that this rig has a big future in the sportfishing arena. With a lot of room to fit options such as out- and downriggers, deck winches and the like, you could run some big offshore sorties in comfort and with the feeling of security. With wind on the stern it carved up the chop at just under 70kmh on the home run.
The Razerline 6.4m gets across the finish line well ahead of many in the same price bracket and is well worth a test run.
HIGHS
Spacious area under hardtop and out in cockpit
Excellent killtank system
Soft, dry ride even in adverse conditions
Stable when a number of people angling from one side
LOWS
No backrests/sidepockets in cabin
Livebait tank awkward to get into to catch the evasive last bait - a Perspex front fitted post-manufacture would fix this problem
No slide capability for skipper's seat
Specifications: Seaquest Razerline 6.4 Olympian
HOW MUCH?
Price as tested: $76,500
Options fitted: Humminbird GPS/Sounder, VHF and 27 meg radio, CD Player, colour paint inlay, deckwash, Deluxe helm chairs.
Priced from: $66,500
GENERAL
Material: Aluminium
Length (overall): 7.1m
Beam: 2.5m
Deadrise: 15° variable
Weight: 965kg
CAPACITY
Fuel: 200lt
ENGINE
Make/model: Mercury Optimax
Type: Direct fuel injection two-stroke
Rated horsepower: 175
Displacement: 2507cc
Weight: 201kg
Drive: 1.87:1
Propeller: 13in Mirage
SUPPLIED BY
Queensland Power Boat Centre, 3920 Pacific Highway, Loganholme, Qld, 4129, tel (07) 3801 1733 or visit www.boatsboatsboats.com.au
Originally published in TrailerBoat #190